If you want a used Nissan Rogue Sport, aim for a 2020-2022 car: those years got the refresh, and Nissan made its Safety Shield 360 driver-assist suite standard on every trim, including the base S. Every US Rogue Sport from 2017 to 2022 uses the same 141 hp 2.0-liter and a CVT, so the real differences are equipment, mileage, and history. Before you pay, run the VIN for the jackknife key recall, which covers every model year.
The name causes most of the confusion. The Rogue Sport is a smaller, separate model, the US version of the Nissan Qashqai, and not a trim of the regular Rogue. Car and Driver reported in August 2022 that it arrived here in 2017 and that Nissan would end US production after the 2022 model year, with parts support promised through 2033. Nissan's own discontinued-model page says the same thing: 2022 was the last year. So in mid October 2026, every Rogue Sport for sale is a few years old, and a listing that says "2023 Rogue Sport" is either a typo or the regular Rogue.
Which years to target
The 2020 model year is the line most shoppers should care about. According to Nissan's 2020 announcement, that year brought a new hood, grille and front fascia, LED daytime running lights and new tail lamps. It also made Safety Shield 360 standard on the S, where before it came only on the SV and SL. That package includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, rear automatic braking, lane departure warning, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert and high beam assist.
The 2019 car is a fair middle option. The same Nissan release says 2019 added available ProPILOT Assist, Safety Shield 360 on SV and SL, and standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A 2017 or 2018 car is the budget pick, but you give up phone mirroring and most driver aids. Honestly, if the price gap to a 2020 is small, take the newer car.
Engine, CVT and AWD
There is one powertrain, so you will not get lost in options. Nissan's 2022 press kit lists a 2.0-liter direct-injected four rated at 141 hp at 6,000 rpm and 147 lb-ft at 4,400 rpm, paired with the Xtronic CVT and an Eco Mode switch. Front drive was standard and Intelligent All-Wheel Drive was available on S, SV and SL. Reviewers were not kind about it. MotorTrend praised the roomy cabin, comfortable ride and standard safety gear, but called the powertrain unrefined and anemic and said the Rogue Sport was pricey for its class.
On a test drive, pay attention to the CVT. Accelerate gently from a stop, then hard onto a highway ramp. Listen for whining, a low-speed shudder, or revs that flare without the car picking up speed. We have not found a solid failure rate for this model, so we will not invent one. A CVT that already feels off on a short drive will not get better, though. Ask for fluid service records too. A car with none at 90,000 miles is a gamble, and you should price it that way.
Rogue Sport vs Rogue vs Kicks
The Rogue Sport sits between the two, and that is part of why Nissan dropped it. In the Car and Driver piece, a 2022 Rogue Sport started at $26,255, about $5,000 more than a 2022 Kicks at $21,285, while a new Rogue started at $28,445. Our used Nissan Kicks buying guide covers the smaller car, which was front drive only through 2024. If you need AWD in a small Nissan from those years, the Rogue Sport is the one that offers it; for more room, the used Nissan Rogue buying guide is the better read.
Recalls to clear by VIN
When we pulled NHTSA's recall data on October 15, 2026, the big one was 23V093000. Per the NHTSA acknowledgment letter and NHTSA's recall data, it covers 2014-2020 Rogue and 2017-2022 Rogue Sport vehicles with a jackknife-style key, 712,458 vehicles in total. The key can fold while you drive, and if your knee hits it, the engine can shut off and the air bags may not deploy. The fix is a spacer in the key, done free by dealers. Check every key that comes with the car.
The 2021 model year has two more. 21V525000 covers liftgate hinges that can separate in a rear crash, about 13,215 vehicles, and dealers replace both hinges (NHTSA acknowledgment for 21V-525). 21V555000 covers a seat belt locking retractor that can let go early and reduce protection for a child seat, about 4,083 vehicles. 2018-2019 cars are also in 19V654000, a backup camera display campaign. You can browse the list for any year in the NHTSA recalls API, but a VIN check is the real answer. Our Nissan recall check by VIN post walks through it, and the Nissan VIN decoder helps confirm you are looking at a Rogue Sport and not a Rogue.
History before you hand over money
Read the ownership history line by line. Rental use is not automatically bad, but you want to know about it, and you want to see whether the car moved between states, since that is where title brands sometimes get lost. CARFAX says its reports cover title, odometer, accident and service records, which is what you need on a car this age. Through us, a CARFAX report runs about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, and a CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. One blunt warning: if a private seller texts you a PDF report and gets cagey when you ask for the VIN, run it yourself anyway. Edited PDFs always look clean.
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